Situation 01

If you want to shoot landscapes from a somewhat offbeat perspective, we recommend the DA 35mm F2.4 AL.Changing your perspective on a familiar landscape will radically change the resulting impression.

smc PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL

Standard zoom kit lens

Shooting with a kit standard zoom lens from a standing perspective results in a routine angle with easy-to-perceive shadows from the sunlight filtering through the trees. However, a different kind of landscape presents itself if you shoot from a low angle just off the ground. The slight blurring of the foreground surface gives a strong feeling of depth to this image.

Shooting at an angle with the same feel as a naked-eye view produces a familiar kind of landscape. When a photographer wants to change the perspective while shooting with a zoom lens, there is a tendency to shoot from the same position while just zooming in and out. When you carry a fixed-focal-length lens, work on developing your awareness of how you can change the angle by moving your body.

Situation 02

The DA 35mm F2.4 AL is a good lens for photographing the natural expressions of people. Shooting at a “conversation distance” facilitates the capturing of those natural expressions.

smc PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL

Standard zoom kit lens

Target natural expressions while engaging in a bit of conversation. The important thing is that the two of you are relaxed with each other. This photograph was taken while peacefully sitting in the shade on a bench. The maximum aperture is bright so the person appears to stand out from the background more than would be the case with a kit standard zoom lens.

The maximum-aperture difference between this lens and the fixed-focal-length lens means that the range in focus is somewhat wider for this lens. Under these conditions, the model seems to recede into the background. In order to create an atmosphere similar to that of the fixed-focal-length lens, it is necessary to choose a position where the background is farther away.

Situation 03

For shooting flowers more vividly, we recommend the DA 35mm F2.4 AL. You can discover new angles by moving around.

smc PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL

Standard zoom kit lens

The photographer was looking to capture the flower bed while also including the impression made by the background building. Shooting from eyelevel with the kit standard zoom lens made for a confused mix of subject and background. By just shooting at an upward angle after getting closer to the flowers and squatting down a bit, the photographer gave some order to the background composition while also bringing in the sky.

By lowering the shooting angle, it would be possible to shoot a photograph like the one taken with the fixed-focal-length lens. When making changes, the important thing is to be aware of the possibilities created by moving and changing angles, rather than relying excessively on zooming. Since it cannot zoom, a fixed-focal-length lens will, in use, help you naturally develop a sense of movement.

Situation 04

Try the DA 35mm F2.4 AL for photographing animals at bold angles. Matching the animal’s eyelevel with your own will enable you to capture a richer range of expression.

smc PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL

Standard zoom kit lens

The cute kitten is interested in many things. By guiding the kitten’s gaze using things that draw its attention, the photographer can easily spur different expressions. When shooting indoors, conditions may be darker than expected, but you can suppress subject blurring by opening up the aperture so that a faster shutter speed is used.

When using the kit standard zoom lens, there is an unconscious tendency to shoot with a harmonious composition. Once you have developed a sense of movement by using a fixed-focal-length lens, you should have the presence of mind to creatively change angles even when using this zoom lens.

Standard lens

smc PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL

With this lens you get an angle of view close to what we see with our eyes. In contrast to a zoom lens, with a fixed-focal-length lens, it is difficult to change the image without actually moving your body. Because of its nearly human angle of view, with the standard lens there is a particularly strong tendency to end up with tame and boring compositions so you should move yourself around to change the angle. This search for the best angle should enable you to take new and different pictures.

Situation 01

With the DA 50mm F1.8, subject depth can be expressed using beautiful bokeh blurring effects.Even an ordinary, everyday subject can result in a memorable image through the skillful use of bokeh.

smc PENTAX-DA 50mm F1.8

Standard zoom kit lens

In order to give the blurred foreground leaves as soft a feel as possible, the photographer placed the focal point on the portion of the window frame farthest away. Compared to the image of the kit standard zoom lens, the impression given by the foreground blurring is similar, but there are differences in the softness of the part of the window frame not at the focal point and in the bokeh of the landscape reflected in the window

Compared to the image of the fixed-focal-length lens, the softness of this image feels somewhat lacking. Using only the kit standard zoom lens, you would likely have little chance to experience such differences. By changing lenses to learn about the atmosphere created by bokeh, you will be better able to understand and picture bokeh effects even when using this zoom lens.

Situation 02

For shooting portraits with contrasting sharpness, we recommend the DA 50mm F1.8.It is brighter than the kit lens and beautifully blurs the background so you can shoot images that focus attention on the person.

smc PENTAX-DA 50mm F1.8

Standard zoom kit lens

When you are ready to do portrait photography with something of a professional feel, the easiest lens to use is a bright medium telephoto lens with a large maximum aperture. Placing the model in shadow softened the impression given by her skin. With the kit standard zoom lens, the presence of the background inevitably becomes a concern.

Differences between subject and background are one element that can make a photograph memorable. Using a bright fixed-focal-length lens reduces the limitations that background can exert, thereby making it possible to freely photograph a variety of scenes. Even the kit standard zoom lens can make up for problems in background selection.

Situation 03

With the DA 50mm F1.8, you can create expressive bokeh blurring that makes the subject stand out while also depicting the surroundings.The presence of the subject can be further enhanced by skillfully narrowing down the range of what is in focus.

smc PENTAX-DA 50mm F1.8

Standard zoom kit lens

The best approach is to find flowers that are beautiful and that stand out among the surroundings. First of all, look for the flowers that are to be the subject. Then, by paying attention to the nearby surroundings, you can compose the image in a way that makes use of soft foreground bokeh like that found in this image.

Flowers that seem to stand out when viewed with the naked eye can recede into the surroundings in the resulting photograph. Slight angle differences can be a causal factor. Even when you are using the kit standard zoom lens, take a moment to visually check the angle one more time.

Situation 04

The DA 50mm F1.8 is a strong ally in the photography of moving animals.The ability to softly blur the difficult-to-control background leaves you free to fully concentrate on tracking the subject.

smc PENTAX-DA 50mm F1.8

Standard zoom kit lens

The appeal of this lens is evident in the bokeh blurring in which the background seems to melt. Unlike the kit standard zoom lens, this lens’s bright maximum aperture means that even indoors you can shoot with a relatively fast shutter speed without using an excessively high sensitivity setting.

The kitten’s expression is cute, but the more you look at this photograph, the more the background atmosphere feels problematic. Children and animals such as cats will not in many cases move in a way that the photographer wants them to. When it is not possible to select an ideal background, one solution is to rely on the power of bokeh.

A lens with which you can easily enjoythe special photographic effects ofbokeh blurring

Medium telephoto lens

smc PENTAX-DA 50mm F1.8

This lens has a medium telephoto angle of view. A distinctive characteristic of this angle of view is that it makes it easy to isolate your target area from the surrounding scene. Since it has a bright maximum aperture, the lens makes it easy to obtain soft bokeh blurring effects, and thereby use bokeh to further clarify your target subject. Choosing a main subject that is a little farther away than usual will help you frame a composition that can utilize foreground and background bokeh.

Situation 01

If you want to shoot landscapes that are more uninhibited and dynamic, we recommend the DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF].You can create more fun and interesting image transformations by placing objects with volume at the edge of the image.

smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF]

Standard zoom kit lens

Including the beautifully clear sky, the photographer shot this landscape with the tree as its center point. The building is distorted, but that distortion is a distinguishing characteristic of this lens. If you move some distance away from the subject, the distortion decreases, thereby strengthening an impression of expansiveness.

Moving back from the position where the fisheye photograph was taken, when shooting this image the photographer tried for a similar composition. The presence of the tree is there, but the expansiveness of the image is quite different. If the key quality you are looking for is expansiveness, you should try this fisheye lens.

Situation 02

If you want to take dynamic portraits, we recommend the DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF].Shooting with a background containing many straight lines will increase the distortion, creating a fun image with an unusual feel.

smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF]

Standard zoom kit lens

This image was taken in an interior terrace from an angle that creates a sense of expansiveness and depth. Compared to the image of the kit standard zoom lens, the depth of the background is emphasized. Almost as if she were trying to avoid getting lost in the expansiveness of the image, the model made a dramatic gesture.

To give a feeling of depth, the photographer squatted down slightly to take this picture. Viewed alone, the photograph is beautifully composed, but its impact feels weak compared to the fisheye image. Changing lenses is one option for giving variety to your photographs.

Situation 03

If you want to give greater emphasis to the form of the flower, we recommend the DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF].Shooting the flower from different angles produces various types of deformation so you can create a high-impact image.

smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF]

Standard zoom kit lens

When shooting a round flower, one effect of this lens is to strengthen the flower’s presence by increasing the distortion. This is especially effective with flowers, such as the sunflower, which feature a high degree of roundness. The expansiveness of the background approaches that of an insect eye view. Try imagining yourself as an insect while searching for an angle to take the shot.

If the objective is to beautifully portray the flower, this lens is the better choice. However, although this image has beauty, it is lacking in the kind of surprise that has an impact on the viewer. Try changing lenses to break out of the syndrome where your landscapes all look like something the viewer has seen before.

Situation 04

We recommend the fisheye lens for comical shots such as the so-called “big nose” photographs.By changing the subject distance while shooting, you can capture many fun expressions.

smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF]

Standard zoom kit lens

When the photographer approached the cat lounging on the playset, the cat also became interested and moved closer. If you look through the finder, you will be approaching the cat along with the camera, and this may cause wariness. So we recommend that you use the live view mode and move just the camera closer.

The kit standard zoom lens is just fine for taking conventionally beautiful photographs. However, there are times when just taking beautiful photographs feels somehow inadequate. Using a lens with which extreme changes are possible will bring a refreshing change of pace so it may also present opportunities for discovering new ways of looking at things.

A lens capable of expansivenessand deformation

Fisheye lens

smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF]

This lens offers an extremely wide angle of view, from the ultra-wide to fisheye range. The expansiveness of the angle of view goes way beyond that of the angle of view of human vision. Looking through the lens, you will find an expansiveness far removed from reality. The characteristic deformation of the lens gets even stronger as you approach the subject. Once you get used to the angle of view, you can avoid a monotonous reliance on extreme effects and further expand the appeal of the lens by making a conscious effort to move back and shoot the subject from an intermediate distance.

Situation 01

If you find a subject of special interest within a wide landscape, we recommend shooting with the DFA MACRO 50mm F2.8.It can portray small details more distinctly than the kit lens.

smc PENTAX-D FA Macro 50mm F2.8

Standard zoom kit lens

The photographer focused his attention on the metal fitting holding the shutter. He took care not to get too close and thus lose the atmosphere created by the fitting. Getting close to the subject is one thing that is fun about using a macro lens, but in some cases you also need to be conscious of the overall balance.

For this image, the photographer approached to about the same distance as with the macro lens. The high performance level of the kit standard zoom lens can also be put to good use in close-up photography such as this. Please take a good look at this example and the other examples to reinforce your awareness of the differences between the images of the fixed-focal-length lens and the kit standard zoom lens.

Situation 02

With the DFA MACRO 50mm F2.8, you can concentrate on small details of the human body, such as the fingertips.When shooting in the macro range, the impression given by the photographwill change depending on the focal point so you can shoot images with a variety of expressive effects.

smc PENTAX-D FA Macro 50mm F2.8

Standard zoom kit lens

The photographer’s attention was on the fingers so the focal point was the nail of the middle finger. With the presence of the focal point fully established, the bokeh softly transitions to the background. The fact that the glow of the nail seems stronger here than in the kit standard zoom lens image is evidence of the sharpness of this lens.

The differences in the impressions given by the light are evident here because you can compare two photographs taken of the same scene. If there was only one image, the kit standard zoom lens photograph would seem fine on its own. Try changing lenses to experience such differences yourself.

Situation 03

If you want to get closer so you can photograph flowers as big as possible, it is time to try the DFA MACRO 50mm F2.8.Even the petal veins and other small details are vividly portrayed.

smc PENTAX-D FA Macro 50mm F2.8

Standard zoom kit lens

The photographer got as close to the flower petal as possible. Here we can see the difference between the special macro lens and the kit standard zoom lens. One way to shoot flowers is to utilize the surrounding atmosphere by including the background, but for close-ups of the parts of the flower, a specialized lens is recommended.

This photograph was taken at the minimum shooting distance of the kit standard zoom lens. To portray the softness of the flower petal, it would be nice to get a little closer. For flower photography, a macro lens provides more shooting freedom, thus making it easier to create memorable compositions.

Situation 04

With the DFA MACRO 50mm F2.8, you can focus in on certain features anddiscover dimensions not found in the impressions created by standard subjects.

smc PENTAX-D FA Macro 50mm F2.8

Standard zoom kit lens

In this pupil resides the strength of a wild animal. Whereas the picture of the cat as a whole may be unable to elicit any impression but “cute,” narrowing the view to only a portion of the cat gives a new impression. In order to get close, the basic rule is to let the cat get used to you and then approach slowly.

The photographer was looking to capture the expression of this tranquil kitten. The charm of the round pupils produces a very different impression than that of the image captured with the macro lens. Changing lenses creates opportunities for learning about various kinds of images.

A lens for enjoying discoverieslike those you made as a child.

Macro lens

smc PENTAX-D FA Macro 50mm F2.8

The distinctive characteristic of a macro lens is its ability to get close to the subject. Discoveries made in close-up observation are filled with the fun and fascination that are key aspects of photography. The shooting will be easier if you first carefully observe the subject with your own eyes and then find the point where you want to concentrate. When you actually get close and the subject looms large, you will find that even a slight shake is noticeable. Possible options include raising the shutter speed or waiting to press the shutter at the moment when the wind stops.